delicate
Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary
Contents |
[edit] English
[edit] Etymology
From Middle English delicat < Latin delicatus (“‘giving pleasure, delightful, soft, luxurious, delicate, in ML. also fine, slender’”) < delicia, usually in plural deliciae (“‘pleasure, delight, luxury’”) < delicere (“‘to allure’”) < de (“‘away’”) + lacere (“‘to allure, entice’”).
[edit] Pronunciation
[edit] Adjective
delicate (comparative more delicate, superlative most delicate)
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Positive |
Comparative |
Superlative |
- Easily damaged or requiring careful handling.
- Those clothes are delicate
- The negotiations were very delicate
- Characterized by a fine structure or thin lines.
- Her face was delicate
- The spider wove a delicate web
- There was a delicate pattern of frost on the window
- Intended for use with fragile items.
- Set the washing machine to the delicate cycle
- Of weak health, easily sick.
- (informal) Unwell, especially because of having drunk too much alcohol.
- Please don't speak so loudly - I'm feeling a bit delicate this morning
[edit] Related terms
[edit] Translations
easily damaged or requiring careful handling
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of weak health, easily sick
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unwell, especially because of having drunk too much alcohol
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[edit] Noun
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Singular |
Plural |
delicate (countable and uncountable; plural delicates)
- (countable) A delicate item of clothing
- Don't put that in with your jeans, it's a delicate!
- (uncountable) Specifically underwear or lingerie.
[edit] External links
- delicate in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
- delicate in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911
[edit] Italian
[edit] Adjective
delicate f.
- Feminine plural form of delicato.
[edit] Anagrams
- Anagrams of acdeeilt
- dateceli
[edit] Romanian
[edit] Adjective
delicate
- feminine plural nominative form of delicat.
- feminine plural accusative form of delicat.
- neuter plural nominative form of delicat.
- neuter plural accusative form of delicat.